The Sunday morning eucharist at St Margaret's was followed by the annual vestry meeting and annual parochial church meeting. At the annual vestry meeting, the two churchwardens Elizabeth Hudd and John Parle, were re-elected.

The Sunday morning eucharist at St Margaret's was followed by the annual vestry meeting and annual parochial church meeting. At the annual vestry meeting, the two churchwardens Elizabeth Hudd and John Parle, were re-elected. The rector Canon John Simpson thanked them both for their service during the past year. At the annual parochial church meeting, five members of the congregation were elected as deputy churchwardens: Gerda Buckley, June Chapman, Jenny Gouldby, Malcolm Howes and Rosemary Pye. There was a single vacancy on the PCC, which was filled by the election of Olive Jenner. The rector paid tribute to the Rev Bill Overy who, after 40 years of service to St Margaret's, now no longer wished to serve on the PCC. The meeting's appreciation for his dedicated service was expressed with acclaim. Twenty-six members of the congregation were appointed as sidesmen. The meeting received reports on work and projects undertaken to maintain the fabric of the church during the past year, together with the annual reports for all sections of the church's activities. Presenting his report on St Margaret's finances, the treasurer was able to record that, while not a rich church and having overspent by �5,000 in 2008, St Margaret's had managed to meet all its financial commitments and to end the year with no debts. He recorded his appreciation for the support given to St Margaret's by the Lowestoft Charity Board and for the work of the fundraising committee. Looking ahead, the rector noted that the church faced considerable expenditure to renew the electrical wiring and to install new lighting fittings. The meeting concluded with the rector's report. Referring to his impending retirement in 2010, Canon John Simpson told the meeting that he did not yet know when it would occur and was in consultation with the bishop on the matter. He thanked the staff team for their support and also recorded his thanks to this wife, Carol, whose task of combining the roles of verger and rector's wife was not an easy one. Church evangelist Capt Paul McDonough reported on his work with Lowestoft College. He currently dedicated one day a week to the college and his involvement was bearing fruit. The college was very grateful for his contribution and he had had to decline requests to give more time, despite the evident need for support for both the student population and the college staff. On Saturday, St Margaret's Mothers' Union will be holding an afternoon tea in the Church Centre, from 2.30 to 4.30pm, with all the usual stalls, in aid of funds. The event is open to all. Services for the third Sunday after Easter will begin with holy communion at 8am and sung eucharist at 10am. There will be a service of baptism at 11.30 am and the day will conclude with evensong and holy communion at 6.30pm. The First Sunday children's activities will take place in the Church Centre from 9.45 to 11.15am, on the theme of the Good Shepherd. The Traidcraft stall will also be open after the morning service in the Church Centre.